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GEORGIUS AGRICOLA
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Georgius
Agricola, the "Father of Mineralogy," was born Georgius Pawer or Bauer
at Glauchau, Saxony, March 24, 1491 and died at Chemnitz, Germany,
November 21, 1555. Almost nothing is known of his parents and early
life.
He
entered Leipzig University in 1514 and graduated in 1517 or 1518 with
the degree of Bachelor of Arts in the classics. Either during his
student days or shortly thereafter he Latinized his name to Agricola.
From
1517 or 1518 until 1522 Agricola taught Latin and Greek at Zwickau and
during this period published his first book, a Latin grammar, in 1520.
While at Leipzig and Zwickau he studied philology and acquired a wide
knowledge of the works of writers of Classic times. Apparently he also
developed an interest in political science and medicine for in 1522 he
commenced the study of medicine at Leipzig. In 1524 he went to Italy
where he studied medicine and philosophy at Bologna and Padua and took
his degree in the former at Ferrara University in 1526.
In
1526 he returned to Zwickau to practice medicine and in the following
year was appointed Public Physician of the city of Joachimsthal, the
center of one of the world famous mining districts which had been
discovered, or opened up, some ten years earlier. In 1533 he resigned
his post at Joachimsthal and in 1534 was appointed to the same post at
Chemnitz, another world famous mining center, where he lived until his
death.
It
was at Joachimsthal that Agricola's interest was directed toward
mining, mineralogy and geology. He visited mines and smelters, first in
the discharge of his duties and then because of his growing interest in
all phases of the mining industry. Here he had the opportunity to study
mines at first hand and his unusual powers of observation together with
his broad classical background and keen mind laid the foundations for
his later writing which shows him to have been at least a century in
advance of his time.
While at Joachimsthal he wrote Bermannus, his
first work on mining, in 1528, and published it in 1530. In 1545 or
1546 Agricola was appointed Burgemeister of Chemnitz and continued to
be appointed to public offices for the rest of his life. Because of his
interest in political and natural sciences he attracted the attention
of Duke Maurice and Duke Augustus of Saxony who appointed him to
several public posts and encouraged and assisted him in publishing his
various works. He held public offices in Leipzig, Freiberg, and Dresden
and was envoy of Duke Maurice to Austria and Spain. Little is known of
his activities in these various posts but it can be assumed that he
discharged the duties with credit in view of his numerous appointments.
While a student in Italy he met Erasmus and
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